Time and distance indicating balancing toy

ABSTRACT

A walk-on type horizontal rail with cross-ties and a platform at one end of the rail having a footswitch-controlled timing mechanism for giving audible and visual signals to contestants, who start at the platform and attempt to progress as far as possible along the rail im minimum time; the platform has stabilizing pads and all the bottom surfaces have non-skid provisions; special paint patterns both aid and hinder contestants in various embodiments; novel folding arrangements and safely rounded corners are also disclosed.

United States Patent Stinchcomb 1 Sept. 24, 1974 TIME AND DISTANCEINDICATING BALANCING TOY William C. Stinchcomb, 634 Charraway Rd.,Baltimore, Md. 21229 Filed: Mar. 28, 1973 Appl. No.1 345,683

Inventor:

US. Cl. 273/1 R, 272/60 R, 272/DIG. 5 Int. Cl A631) 1/02 Field of Search272/60, DIG. 5; 273/1 R,

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 8/1942 Terrill 58/145 R 12/1970Thomas 273/1 R Primary ExaminerAnton O. Oechsle AssistantExaminer-Joseph R. Taylor Attorney, Agent, or Firm.lohn F. McClellan,Sr.

[5 7 ABSTRACT A walk-on type horizontal rail with cross-ties and aplatform at one end of the rail having a footswitchcontrolled timingmechanism for giving audible and visual signals to contestants, whostart at the platform and attempt to progress as far as possible alongthe rail im minimum time; the platform has stabilizing pads and all thebottom surfaces have non-skid provisions; special paint patterns bothaid and hinder contestants in various embodiments; novel foldingarrangements and safely rounded corners are also disclosed.

9 Claims, 7 Drawing Figures 1 TIME AND DISTANCE INDICATING BALANCING TOYThis invention relates generally to toys and specifically to balancingrails for walking-on at near gound level or floor level.

In the prior art various devices of the type have been disclosed inwhich the rail is supported against lateral tipping, and/or is segmentedor is foldable to facilitate storage.

However, the prior art devices are little more than pieces of 2 x 4lumber laid on edge, in net effect, and as such have failed to capturethe imagination of youngsters (or of oldster party-goers) and no old artdevice has established itself as a standard toy or piece of sportinggear universally recognized and in demand.

A principal object of the present invention is to add a new dimension towalk-on balancing rails to increase the excitement and enjoyment inusing such devices, the new dimension being a timing device which givesaudible signals against which contestants can measure progress inwalking along the rail.

Another object is to provide in an optional embodiment a visible timingdevice for measuring contestants progress along the rail.

Further objects are to provide a balancing rail assembly in which therail has an integral platform at one end for contestants to begin thebalancing walk from, in which the timing device is contained, and whichhas a foot-operated control for the timing device.

Yet further objects are to provide an assembly as described which can bestored as a compact bundle, which when extended for use has all cornersand edges rounded for safety, which has a non-slip provision on thebottom areas, and which is economical to construct, attractive inappearance, and safe, entertaining and instructive in use.

In brief summary, a structurally preferred embodiment includes acircular platform having a laterally braced rail extending therefrom andan integral device arranged to indicate lapsed time beginning with themoment a contestant starts a balancing walk along the rail.

- The above and other objects and advantages of the invention willbecome more apparent from the following description, including thedrawings, in which like numerals indicating like parts:

FIG. I is an isometric view of an embodiment of the invention;

FIG. is a side elevation of the FIG. 1 embodiment;

FIG. 3 is an end elevation of the FIG. 2 embodiment;

FIG. 4 is a bottom plan detail of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is an elevation detail of a modified embodiment;

FIG. 6 is a top plan view of a further embodiment; and

FIG. 7 is an elevation section of the FIG. embodiment.

FIGS. 1, 2, 3 and 4 show the simplest embodiment 10 of the invention inthe form of a circular platform 12 having an integral rail 14 protrudingfrom the platform. The platform top and bottom l6 18 respectively (FIG.2),,are parallel spaced surfaces and the rail is supported againsttwisting by integral cross ties extending parallel to either side, onwhichtit rests. The rail section is that of a railroad rail preferably(FIG. 3). The bottom of the platform has three pads 24 and 2 6,, (FIG.4) which prevent the platform from tipping by causing the platform tostraddle slight irregularities beneath the center of the platform. Therear pad extends rearwardly beyond the top rear edge for stability, andpreferably connects with it by a smoothly sloping back wall 30 on thepedestal. The bottom plane of the pads and crossties is the same, andrubber non-skid mats 3g, 34 are preferably cemented to each, as shown.The top surface of the platform is preferably flush with the top of therail to prevent tripping.

The length of the rail is graduated into successively numbered zones 36counting away from the pedestal.

A plunger 38 protrudes from the top surface of the pedestal, providingmeans for foot-controlling a sounding timer mechanism 40 within thepedestal.

In operation, the device is used as follows. A contestant stands ,on theplatform with one foot depressing the plunger. At any desired time thecontestantsteps off the platform, releasing the timing control, andwalks along the rail, blancing himself or herself, counting periodicsounds emitted by the timer 4!] to determine how fast he or she can walkthe length of the rail. The length of the rail is preferably severalfeet, with a crosstie every 2 feet at least, 3 being shown in thedrawings, but as many as needed for any desired rail length maybeprovided. A FIG. 5 shows one means for attaching together lengths ofrail to provide for easy knockdown storage and shipment. A recess may beprovided in the end of one rail segment IQ and a matching protrusion 45}may be supplied in the end of the adjacent rail segment 14" forconnection of the two together.

Preferably the structural members are of high impact polystyrene orother suitable moldable thermo plastic material molded in one piece orcemented together according to wellknown techniques in plasticfabrication.

FIG. ,6 shows a further embodiment 6 00 of the device in which a visualtime indicator fide represented by pointer 648 and members 650 isdisposed beneath a transparent plastic window (S52 in the top of thepedesta.

Operation of this device is the same as in F IG. 1 preferably, when thecontestants foot is removed, the timer begins operation. in the FIG. 6embodiment a sounder maybe employed as well as the visual indicator.

Other features of the invention apparent in FIG. $5 include specialzigzag or camouflage paint patterns e54 on the rail top to confusecontestants, 'makingthe device harder to master, and a foldingarrangement for theraiIQ The folding arrangement comprises two similarvertical-pin hinges 6 56 and 65g, on the sides of the rail at least oneof which has a removable pin 66 1). The folded position for the rail isshown in reference lines.

In the folding operation, the location of the hinge point and the factthat the rail rests on crossties directly allows the folding railsegment 614' to pass over the adjacent crosstie 6Z0 and the foldingcrosstie 620 to pass under the adjacent rail 615i. Preferably theterminal crosstie e20 passes to the rear of the platform 6I2 shown. Morethan one hinged segmentcan be provided to facilitate folding longerasseniblies.

FIG. 7 shows schematically a representative conventional verticalescapement 640 which may be used for driving the timing mechanism. Thetimer is attached to the platform as by screwing or cementing. When thecontestant steps on plunger 638 spring 662 is depressed between thelower end 664 of the plunger and retainer 666 in the timer box 668. Whenthe contestant releases the plunger, rack 670 on the plunger drives gear672 in a clockwise direction; causing an ordinary one-way sprague typeclutch consisting of a ball 674 held in an incline 676 relative to axle678 of the gear, to rotate the axle 678. Ratchet gear 680 mountedintegral with axle 678, as it rotates drives escapement are 682 inoscillation about pivot 684.

Flat spring 686 resists the driving force by pressing against fixed pin688 until the resisting force is overcome, and slips past the pin firstto one side and then to the other, alternately striking bells 690 and692, giving a periodic sounding easy to count.

If a pointer 648 is used in a visual indicator as in FIG. 6, it isdriven by an axle 694 turned by the rachet gear 672 through miter gears696 (one set not shown connecting the axle 678 and idler shaft 698).

The pointer may be conventionally provided with a recentering ratchetand spring (not shown) if desired.

From the foregoing it will be appreciated that the operating portions ofthe apparatus are well protected and, being integral with it, do notimpose safety hazards such as connections, and cannot be misplaced.

It will be apparent that other platform shapes and time indicatingarrangements integral with the apparatus described will fall within thescope of the invention.

Obviously many modifications and variations of the present invention arepossible in light of the above teachings. It is, therefore, to beunderstood that within the scope of the appended claims the inventionmay be practiced otherwise than as specifically described.

What is claimed and desired to be secured by US. letters patent is:

l. A walk-on balancing apparatus comprising: a rail, a platform at oneend of the rail with the rail protruding 4 from the platformsubstantially flush with the upper portion thereof, a time indicatingmechanism integral with the apparatus, and a foot control for the timeindicating mechanism on the platform.

2. A walk-on balancing apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein thetiming mechanism includes means for giving an audible signal.

3. A walk-on balancing apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein the timeindicating mechanism is within the platform.

4. A walk-on balancing apparatus as recited in claim 3, wherein the timeindicating mechanism includes a visual indicator on the platform.

5. A walkon balancing apparatus as recited in claim 3, wherein the railhas numbered graduations along the length thereof.

6. A walk-on balancing apparatus comprising: a platform having spacedpads therebeneath with one of said pads extending rearwardly of theupper part of the platform, a time indicating mechanism attached to theplatform, a rail extending from the platform, a plurality of crosstiesattached to the rail with the rail resting thereon, and at least onehinge laterally of the rail for folding the apparatus, said at least onehinge being spaced from the platform and the crossties a distanceproviding for a crosstie to pass under a portion of the rail and pastthe platform on folding.

7. A walk-on balancing apparatus as recited in claim 6, wherein non-skidmat material is affixed to the bottoms of all said crossties and pads.

8. A walk-on balancing apparatus as recited in claim 7, wherein thesectional shape of the rail is the same as the sectional shape of arailroad rail.

9. A walk-on balancing apparatus comprising: a platform having spacedpads therebeneath with one of said pads extending rearwardly of theupper part of the platform, a time indicating mechanism attached to theplatform, a rail extending from the platform, a plurality of crosstiesattached to the rail with the rail resting thereon, the rail comprisinga plurality of segments, and the segments having respective matchingapertures and protrusions for assembly and disassembly.

1. A walk-on balancing apparatus comprising: a rail, a platform at oneend of the rail with the rail protruding from the platform substantiallyflush with the upper portion thereof, a time indicating mechanismintegral with the apparatus, and a foot control for the time indicatingmechanism on the platform.
 2. A walk-on balancing apparatus as recitedin claim 1, wherein the timing mechanism includes means for giving anaudible signal.
 3. A walk-on balancing apparatus as recited in claim 1,wherein the time indicating mechanism is within the platform.
 4. Awalk-on balancing apparatus as recited in claim 3, wherein the timeindicating mechanism includes a visual indicator on the platform.
 5. Awalk-on balancing apparatus as recited in claim 3, wherein the rail hasnumbered graduations along the length thereof.
 6. A walk-on balancingapparatus comprising: a platform having spaced pads therebeneath withone of said pads extending rearwardly of the upper part of the platform,a time indicating mechanism attached to the platform, a rail extendingfrom the platform, a plurality of crossties attached to the rail withthe rail resting thereon, and at least one hinge laterally of the railfor folding the apparatus, said at least one hinge being spaced from theplatform and the crossties a distance providing for a crosstie to passunder a portion of the rail and past the platform on folding.
 7. Awalk-on balancing apparatus as recited in claim 6, wherein non-skid matmaterial is affixed to the bottoms of all said crossties and pads.
 8. Awalk-on balancing apparatus as recited in claim 7, wherein the sectionalshape of the rail is the same as the sectional shape of a railroad rail.9. A walk-on balancing apparatus comprising: a platform having spacedpads therebeneath with one of said pads extending rearwardly of theupper part of the platform, a time indicating mechanism attached to theplatform, a rail extending from the platform, a plurality of crosstiesattached to the rail with the rail resting thereon, the rail comprisinga plurality of segments, and the segments having respective matchingapertures and protrusions for assembly and disassembly.